This article was first published on The Bit Journal. Crypto payments company Ripple is strengthening its presence in the region as Ripple Australia moves closer to securing a major financial services license through the acquisition of an Australian payments firm. The development is another move in the ongoing process of Ripple and its global expansion to secure regulatory licenses in major financial markets.
A statement issued by the company on Tuesday confirms that Ripple is acquiring BC Payments Australia, a business entity associated with the European Banking Circle Group. Ripple Australia will also obtain the Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) of the firm through the acquisition which will likely be mandatory to some crypto companies dealing with financial services within the country.
Exciting milestone for @Ripple in Australia! 🇦🇺
Ripple is obtaining an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). As we continue to bridge TradFi with the next gen of digital infrastructure, regulatory compliance remains the foundation of everything we build:… pic.twitter.com/JNF1iQSyG7
— Ripple (@Ripple) March 10, 2026
Institutional Demand Drives Ripple Australia Expansion
According to the reports provided by The Australian with the comments of Ripple’s Asia-Pacific managing director, Fiona Murray, the transaction is likely to be closed on April 1. According to Murray, high institutional interest in digital assets was significant in influencing the decision to proceed with the acquisition by the company.
She described how demand by financial institutions has grown tremendously over the last few years hence the expansion of Ripple Australia is a logical move by the company. Murray further explained that the regulatory licensing has also been part and parcel of the long-term strategy of Ripple.
“Getting licensed was always part of our plan.”
Ripple Strengthens Global Regulatory Strategy Through Australia
As part of the official statement of Ripple, Murray referred to Australia as a strategically important market to the firm. The AFSL would enable Ripple Australia to expand its payments infrastructure and provide more financial services nationwide.
“With the AFSL in place, Ripple Payments can manage the full lifecycle of a transaction, from onboarding and compliance through funding, FX, liquidity management, and final payout, while integrating both traditional banking rails and digital assets.”
Ripple Australia expansion also contributes to the overall global regulatory approach of Ripple. In the last one year, the company has acquired payment licenses in major financial centers such as Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Ripple has also applied to have a national trust banking charter in the United States approved conditionally.
Meanwhile, Ripple has maintained the creation of new applications to its ecosystem, such as XRP and its stablecoin Ripple USD. Some of the recent acquisitions that back this strategy have been prime brokerage platform Hidden Road and corporate treasury management provider GTreasury.
Ripple Prime Acquisition Strengthens Institutional Crypto Services
The acquisition of Hidden Road, which currently works under the name of Ripple Prime, made Ripple the first crypto-native company to both own and run a multi-asset prime brokerage platform. The platform provides institutional clients with services like clearing, financing as well as brokerage in the digital assets, derivatives, foreign exchange and fixed-income products.
In the meantime, Australian regulatory environment is still changing. Last year, lawmakers presented a Digital Asset Framework bill, which passed the lower house earlier that year and is under review in the Senate. The Australian financial regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has also come up with new regulations that are meant to enhance regulation of the crypto industry.
ASIC has also promoted the crypto trading platforms to apply the AFSL licenses but mentioned that the enforcement measures concerning the licensing will not be commenced before at least June 30, 2026.
Australia Crypto Adoption Faces Ongoing Banking Barriers
The industry participants are also of the opinion that more explicit regulatory frameworks would also be useful in mitigating banking limits that have impacted the uptake of cryptocurrencies in the country. A number of leading banks such as Commonwealth Bank, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, National Australia Bank and Westpac have proposed restrictions on transfers to crypto exchanges.
According to market observers, in case Ripple Australia manages to obtain the AFSL, it can contribute to a rise in institutional confidence and promote the broader use of digital assets in the country.
Conclusion
In case Ripple Australia obtains the AFSL, it would enhance institutional trust, facilitate wider usage of digital assets, and improve the crypto-related ecosystem of the country. That relocation is a reminder of the fact that Ripple continues its global regulation approach and that Australia has become an increasingly important market in the development of compliant and innovative crypto services.
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Summary
- Ripple Australia acquires BC Payments, gaining AFSL license.
- High institutional demand drives Ripple’s expansion strategy.
- AFSL enables full transaction management and payments growth.
- Clearer regulations may boost crypto adoption, market confidence.
Glossary of Key Terms
Ripple Australia: Ripple’s branch expanding services in Australia.
AFSL: License allowing legal financial services in Australia.
XRP: Ripple’s native cryptocurrency for fast payments.
Ripple USD: Stablecoin pegged to the US dollar.
Ripple Prime: Multi-asset prime brokerage platform for institutions.
GTreasury: Treasury management platform acquired by Ripple.
ASIC: Australia’s financial regulator overseeing crypto licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ripple Australia
1: What is Ripple Australia acquiring?
BC Payments Australia to gain its AFSL license.
2: Why expand in Australia?
Strong institutional demand drives Ripple Australia’s growth.
3: How will AFSL help Ripple Australia?
Enables full transaction management and broader services.
4: What market impact could the license have?
Boosts institutional confidence and crypto adoption in Australia.
References
Disclaimer
The article is purely informational and it is not a financial investment, or trading advice. Cryptocurrencies are extremely risky and volatile. Before investing, the readers are to conduct personal research and seek the advice of a qualified financial expert.
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